NIL Deals of the Week: Quarterbacks cash in with college football season getting closer

Summertime usually means slower amounts of NIL deals announced. But with college football media days already taking place and the release of EA Sports College Football 25 right around the corner, there are still plenty of creative and original partnerships to highlight in this week’s NIL Deals of the Week.

With a mission to highlight the top deals, the On3 NIL team will focus on identifying noteworthy deals in the college athletics landscape.

As a reminder, feel free to submit info on your NIL deal to On3. You can email [email protected] or reach out via DM or comment on Twitter to @On3NIL. Direct messages are open, too, on the @On3NIL Instagram account. Let’s get to the deals that highlighted this week in NIL

Arch Manning will be in EA Sports College Football 25

Arch Manning is in the game, after all.

The Texas sophomore quarterback announced his name, image and likeness will be in EA Sports College Football 25 after previously deciding not to opt in.

Manning – one of the biggest names in college football – previously chose not to participate in the video game, which saw more than 14,000 players opt-in. It was one of the most notable decisions as the game, at long last, gets ready to drop next week.

Now, it will also include Manning, who made the announcement along with his uncle Eli Manning. At the end of the video, Manning announced he was in.

For EA Sports, it’s a huge win getting one of the most notable names in the sport. On3’s Pete Nakos learned the partnership between EA and Manning was for between $50,000 and $60,000.

Manning has an On3 NIL Valuation of $2.8 million, which ranks No. 3 in the On3 NIL 100 – the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

Arkansas QB Taylen Green gets new truck through NIL deal

All it took for Taylen Green to decide on Arkansas was a weekend visit in December.

The quarterback committed to the Razorbacks shortly after. He led Boise State to a Mountain West title in 2023, scoring four touchdowns and generating 316 total yards of offense as he earned the game’s Offensive MVP.

He’s gone through spring ball with Arkansas, ready to prove he can be a starting quarterback in the SEC. Green has yet to be named the official starter, however, Razorbacks’ coach Sam Pittman called him the leading candidate this spring.

He’s now inked an NIL deal with Fletcher Auto Group, facilitated by the Arkansas Edge NIL collective. As part of the agreement, Green will be driving around Northwest Arkansas in a new Ram 1500 truck with all the bells and whistles.

Car deals have become increasingly popular in the NIL Era. Every dealership handles deals differently, with some handing keys over for a season while others, such as Lamborghini Austin, open up the opportunity for athletes to drive a vehicle a certain amount of times. Some athletes are responsible for purchasing their own car insurance, too. Fletcher Auto has dealerships in Arkansas and Missouri.

Green has inked endorsement deals with EA Sports College Football 25 and His Huddle since landing in Fayetteville. With more than 23,000 social media followers, he’s worked with Team IFA and Excel Sports.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart signs deal with Dick’s Sporting Goods

Jaxson Dart is getting ready for college football season with one of his biggest NIL deals to date.

The Ole Miss starting quarterback inked an endorsement deal with Dick’s Sporting Goods, starring in a new back-to-school ad with sports commentator Kay Adams. A Heisman Trophy candidate entering the 2024 season, Dart has thrown for 7,691 yards with 52 touchdowns. With a 17−10 overall record in two seasons at Ole Miss, he’s poised for the most anticipated season in Oxford in recent memory.

“Partnering with Dick’s Sporting Goods is an incredible opportunity,” Dart said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to sharing my style and gear preferences with fans and being part of a brand that truly supports athletes.”

Full details of the agreement were not disclosed, but the total value of the deal is estimated to be in the $100,000 range, On3 has learned. In the campaign, Dart takes fans behind the scenes, sharing his personal gear and apparel choices from Dick’s.

The partnership was facilitated by Everett Sports Management (ESM) and agent Jeff Hoffman. ESM has one of the largest NIL agency portfolios, including Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and defensive back Malaki Starks, along with the Cavinder Twins.

“We are incredibly excited to partner Jaxson Dart with Dick’s Sporting Goods,” Hoffman told On3. “Jaxson’s unique blend of on-field prowess and off-field charisma aligns perfectly with Dick’s commitment to inspiring and equipping athletes. This collaboration will provide fans with an up-close look at the intersection of style and athletic performance.”

Florida State QB DJ Uiagalelei stars in Circle K commercial

Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei inked an NIL deal with Circle K, promoting the convenience store’s Polar Pop. Repped by Vayner Sports, Uiagalelei likes Circle K because they have his favorite Powerade flavor.

His social media advertisement for the brand is now going viral, with more than 75,000 views on Instagram. In the 40-second clip, he breaks down the ins and outs of Circle K’s Polar Pop station.

“DJ Uiagalelei here, I am at my favorite convenience store, Circle K,” he says in the commercial. “Out here in Florida, it gets real hot. So whenever I’m done golfing or just want to get something to drink to cool down, pop over to Circle K because they got the 79-cent Polar Pop.”

Uiagalelei has a $630,000 On3 NIL Valuation, which ranks No. 72 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

2027 QB recruit Trae Taylor lands Leaf Trading Cards deal

Trae Taylor has already emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 cycle. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback from Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic picked up scholarship offers from Colorado, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. He camped at 15 schools in June.

Taylor has now signed an NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards. As a high schooler in Illinois, he’s able to monetize his name, image and likeness without losing eligibility. On3’s Vice President of Recruiting and Transfer Portal Steve Wiltfong learned it’s a five-year agreement in the six-figure range priced between $100,000 and $200,000.

He’s not the first top 2027 quarterback to sign a lucrative endorsement deal with Leaf, Peyton Houston signed with the brand back in May which was described as life-changing.

FSU golfer Luke Clanton reaches deal with The Battle’s End

Emerging Florida State golf superstar Luke Clanton, who recently made history by placing in the top 10 of back-to-back PGA Tour events as an amateur, reached an agreement with FSU NIL collective The Battle’s End.

The relationship was announced Thursday evening in a video on The Battle’s End YouTube page.

“Luke Clanton is one of the best in the world at what he does, and we are fortunate for the opportunity to work with an athlete of his caliber, especially during this exceptional run,” Ingram Smith, CEO of The Battle’s End, said in a press release. “Luke is the embodiment of a Battle’s End athlete. He was an elite prospect who has flourished during his time at Florida State thanks to excellent coaching and top-end training facilities and has cemented himself as one of the best in the entire country. We are thrilled to be able to make sure he has a best-in-class NIL experience as he spends the rest of his collegiate career at FSU.”

Even before his stellar run as an amateur playing in PGA events, Clanton was shining on the college stage. In May, the rising junior was a key member of the first Florida State golf team to reach the NCAA Match Play Finals. He finished tied for second in individual stroke play.

While there have been questions about whether Clanton will make the jump to professional golf, he has said several times recently that his goal right now is to stay in school and lead the Seminoles to a national championship.

Other NIL deals of note

+Michigan quarterback Alex Orji revealed a new NIL deal with RPT Clinic in Troy, Michigan. In a social media post, Orji showcased how the clinic utilizes a therapeutic robot to non-surgically lengthen muscle tissue which can decrease pain and increase mobility. Financial details of the deal were not made available, however, Orji has an On3 NIL Valuation of $202,000. The junior quarterback is battling to be the starter this season for the Wolverines.

+Florida guard Alijah Martin – one of the Gators’ prize signees from the transfer portal – is the latest to announce an NIL deal with the Florida Victorious collective.

A three-time all-conference player, Martin led FAU to the 2023 Final Four. He averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds last season and had career-best marks of 13.9 points per game, 45.8% from the floor and 40% from downtown in 2022. Financial terms of the NIL deal with Florida Victorious were not made available. However, impact players like Martin commanded big bucks this transfer portal season. Top guards are making roughly half a million a year from collectives, according to On3 reporting.

+Wildcat NIL announced a new partnership with WTC Fiber, and as part of the agreement, star Kansas State athletes are using their NIL to promote the internet and cable provider. The K-State standouts promoting WTC Fiber include Avery Johnson (football), Serena Sundell (women’s basketball), David N’Guessan (men’s basketball), Aliyah Carter (volleyball) and Kaelen Culpepper (baseball). Terms of the deal were not made available from Wildcat NIL. Johnson has an On3 NIL Valuation of $256,000.